Welcome to the Woodstock -
Preservation ArchivesDedicated to the Historic Preservation of
the Site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival

THE WOODSTOCK SITE
Hurd & West Shore Rds
Sullivan County
Bethel NY

April 25, 2004

William Hanley Jr.
Miramac, Mass. 01860

Town of Bethel
Attn: Planning Board
P.O. Box 300
White Lake, NY 12786

To the Bethel Planning Board,

My name is Bill Hanley and I was involved with the 1969 Woodstock
Music and Arts Fair. I am writing with regards to the proposed
placement of buildings and perimeter fencing on and around the Site
of the Original 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair as part of the
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. I am aware that the Gerry
Foundation plans to place its Central Buildings Complex on the top
plateau of the festival site and I felt that needed to write to you
and express my concerns prior to allowing any permits to be issued
to the developer. My involvement with Woodstock was that of designer
of the sound system used, mixing of and recording of all of the
music that came from that stage. I have been in the field of live
sound engineering for over forty years and I, more than most
understand how relevant the Woodstock festival was. My credits
include the Miami Pop Festival, Atlanta Pop Festivals 1 and 2, the
Texas International Pop Festival, and numerous others. It was myself
and Michael Lang who were attracted to, and agreed upon the piece of
property that the Gerry Foundation now sees fit to destroy. Though
over thirty years have passed, the historic and cultural relevance
of the festival and the site itself remain as important now, as it
did then.

Although I believe that Mr. Gerry's idea of building a performing
arts center is a great thing for Bethel and Sullivan County, I agree
with the Woodstock Preservation Alliance that the developers have a
number of alternative locations on which to build their core
buildings complex, and that fencing and placing structures on this
historic site itself is unnecessary. It would be an injustice and
insult to those of us who made it famous. I know that other
Woodstock alumni, who if not for them the Woodstock site would have
remained another pasture, wholeheartedly disagree with the Gerry
Foundation�s desire to build on the Woodstock site. Myself,
Chipmonck, John Morris, and Artie Kornfeld to name just a few have
been in contact with the Woodstock Preservation Alliance and share
their disappointment that any thought to ruining the legend and
magic of Woodstock would have been entertained. If you allow permits
to the Gerry Foundation so they can build on the very asset that
will define your arts center, you will have partaken in the
destruction of part of America's heritage. I ask that you think
about this before involving yourselves in a great travesty. Do not
allow the Gerry Foundation to destroy this historic and socially
significant place.
Sincerely,

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